Gayest Episode Ever

"We Are Family" (May 2, 1988) Finally, at long last, ALF! This is the first in a new series where Drew and Glen discuss shows that never did a gay episode. "But wait, Drew and Glen! You have done episodes that weren't explicitly gay before," you may be saying. This is true, but at the very least we could pretend that the writer maybe-kinda-sorta had some gay metaphor in mind. This new series is for all the shows that never even treaded that far, but we think there's something to talk about anyway. In this episode, ALF contemplates coming out as an alien, even if going public might poses risks to his personal liberties. Sandy Duncan does and does not make a cameo. Purchase Glen's iconic "ALF Says 'Gay Rights'" design at our Teepublic store and improve your overall quality of life. Watch NBC's 75th anniversary special, where ALF makes a cameo and, in doing so, pissed off Tina Fey. The false binary of hefty vs. wimpy Listen to Drew's new 80s music podcast, Deep Cuts and Superficial Wounds: Mixcloud • iTunes • Stitcher • Libsyn • Google Podcasts Shop for Gayest Episode Ever shirts, totes and more on our TeePublic page. Buy Glen's movie, Being Frank. Support us on Patreon! Follow: GEE on Twitter • Drew on Twitter • Glen on Twitter Listen: iTunes • Spotify • Stitcher • Google Play • Google Podcasts • Himalaya • TuneIn • SoundCloud This episode's outro track is "Hallo ALF, Hier ist Rhonda" by Tommi Piper with Amélie Sandmann, which is perhaps not surprisingly unavailable on all the American streaming services.

"Grand Illusion" (October 29, 1996) Because this is either the episode you're getting immediately before the election (if you're on the Patreon feed) or directly after (if you're on the main feed), we decided we'd try for something political. No, we don't know why we attempted this, but we ended up picking the first LGBT-themed episode from Spin City, which is arguably the most politically focused sitcom of late. And while this episode should focus more on the out gay character, Michael Boatman's Carter Heywood, it instead shifts the spotlight to Connie Britton's Nikki, which Drew thinks is lame. Poobala.com is the website that charts TV crossovers in considerable detail, and you could definitely get lost there if you love TV trivia. And here is the clip of Matlock in a gay bar along with Lea Delaria in pearls. Listen to Drew's new 80s music podcast, Deep Cuts and Superficial Wounds: Mixcloud • iTunes • Stitcher • Libsyn • Google Podcasts Shop for Gayest Episode Ever shirts, totes and more on our TeePublic page. Buy Glen's movie, Being Frank. Support us on Patreon! Follow: GEE on Twitter • Drew on Twitter • Glen on Twitter Listen: iTunes • Spotify • Stitcher • Google Play • Google Podcasts • Himalaya • TuneIn • SoundCloud This episode's outro track is "Yes, Sir, I Can Boogie" by Baccara: Apple Music • Amazon Music • Spotify

"Jennifer: The Movie" (October 29, 1983) We're celebrating both Halloween and week two of our celebration of Ann Jillian with an episode about how the 1983 NBC series Jennifer Slept Here is both so very weird and also a little gay boy's fantasy — because it pairs an awkward boy with glamorous ghost, and that's secretly what every little gay boy wishes he had to guide him through his awkward years. This is peak 80s, but also it has one of the best sitcom themes ever, regardless of decade. Watch Drew's video of the 1982 Night of a Thousand Stars fashion show, which features Ann Jillian looking like her most Debbie Harry ever. Gawk in awe at: The opening to Mr. Smith The opening to Double Trouble The opening to Mr. Merlin The opening to Down to Earth The opening to Ann Jillian Ann as the Red Queen in the live action Alice in Wonderland + the very scary Jabberwocky scenes Listen to Drew's new 80s music podcast, Deep Cuts and Superficial Wounds: Mixcloud • iTunes • Stitcher • Libsyn • Google Podcasts Shop for Gayest Episode Ever shirts, totes and more on our TeePublic page. Buy Glen's movie, Being Frank. Support us on Patreon! Follow: GEE on Twitter • Drew on Twitter • Glen on Twitter Listen: iTunes • Spotify • Stitcher • Google Play • Google Podcasts • Himalaya • TuneIn • SoundCloud This episode's outro track is "Crazy" by Daydream: Apple Music • Amazon Music

"Gender Gap" (January 11, 1986) Heads up: Initially, at least, Drew thought the episode being discussed was more transphobic that most, but special guest Ashley Lauren Rogers pointed out the ways the one trans episode of It's a Living isn't a total wash — and since Ashley happens to be the host of the Is It Transphobic? podcast, that counts for something. Whatever you think, this episode offers a glimpse at the proto-Golden Girls sitcom that Drew has been talking about for weeks and weeks, as well as the first part of a mini Ann Jillian festival that you won't find on any other podcast ever. Listen to Ashley's podcast Is It Transphobic?, especially the episodes on Nanette, Mrs. Doubtfire, The Lost Boys, Dallas Buyers Club and Silence of the Lambs. Also listen to Drew's new 80s music podcast, which has both a third episode and a first episode, regardless of what Glen thinks. Shop for Gayest Episode Ever shirts, totes and more on our TeePublic page. Buy Glen's movie, Being Frank. Support us on Patreon! Follow: GEE on Twitter • Drew on Twitter • Glen on Twitter Listen: iTunes • Spotify • Stitcher • Google Play • Google Podcasts • Himalaya • TuneIn • SoundCloud This episode's outro track is "Isadora" by the Isadora Juice, which does not seem to be on any streaming service at the moment. Oh no.

"Pride and Prejudice" (January 6, 2017) The new One Day at a Time gets major points for focusing on a Latin family, for successfully re-inventing a Norman Lear classic and for giving us another reason to love Rita Moreno. Most important for this podcast's purposes, however, is its nuanced handling of teenage Elena's coming out. This week, Tony Rodriguez joins us to discuss how this story arc is more interesting for having put the spotlight not on Elena but on Penelope, her mom, who is liberal but is still having trouble accepting her daughter's sexuality. Listen to Drew's new 80s music podcast, Deep Cuts and Superficial Wounds: Mixcloud • iTunes • Stitcher • Libsyn • more to come! Listen to the episodes of Tony's podcast featuring Gloria Calderon Kellet, Isabella Gomez and Ariela Barer. Watch the the episode of The Muppets Show that got Rita Moreno her first Emmy. Shop for Gayest Episode Ever shirts, totes and more on our TeePublic page. Buy Glen's movie, Being Frank. Support us on Patreon! Follow: GEE on Twitter • Drew on Twitter • Glen on Twitter Listen: iTunes • Spotify • Stitcher • Google Play • Google Podcasts • Himalaya • TuneIn • SoundCloud This episode's outro track is "Cuba" by the Gibson Brothers: Apple Music • Amazon Music • Spotify

"A Toe in the Water" (September 23, 1991) What is Designing Women minus Delta Burke and Jean Smart but plus Julia Duffy and Jan Hooks? An interesting beast that is different than the Suzanne/Charlene years, yeah, but still pretty damn interesting. This episode is a showcase for Duffy's anti-Diane Chambers, Allison Sugarbaker, who only lasted a season but it wasn't her fault? Jonathan Bradley Welch makes his second GEE turn to talk Sugarbakers and his new podcast with Stonewall Democrats. Listen to our previous Designing Women episodes, Julia Sugarbaker Plans a Gay Funeral and Suzanne Sugarbaker Accidentally Dates a Lesbian, as well as Jonathan's first GEE episode, Roy Biggins Has a Big Gay Son. Check out Jonathan's queer politics podcast, The Read Down: YouTube • Twitter • iTunes • Website Listen to Drew's new 80s music podcast, Deep Cuts and Superficial Wounds: Mixcloud • iTunes • Stitcher • Libsyn • more to come! Read Rembert Browne's Grantland article on Delta Burke's exit from Designing Women. And read the L.A Times article on Jean Smart's far-less dramatic exit. Listen to Gayish's episode on bisexuals. The Slate article on the political affiliation of various TV characters. Shop for Gayest Episode Ever shirts, totes and more on our TeePublic page. Buy Glen's movie, Being Frank. Support us on Patreon! Follow: GEE on Twitter • Drew on Twitter • Glen on Twitter Listen: iTunes • Spotify • Stitcher • Google Play • Google Podcasts • Himalaya • TuneIn • SoundCloud And yes, we do have an official website! And we even have episode transcripts courtesy of Sarah Neal. Our logo was designed by Rob Wilson. This is a TableCakes podcast. This episode's outro song is "In the Evening" by Sheryl Lee Ralph: Apple Music • Amazon Music • Spotify

"Pop Secret" (June 23, 1993) The HBO sitcom Dream On got a rep for being both a more grown-up take on sitcoms... and also a showcase for boobs. But this show's fourth-season gay episode lands pretty well today. It's all about series protag Martin Tupper (Brian Benben) finding out his dad is gay and processing it more realistically than other characters on other sitcoms would. The Entertainment Weekly article "HBO's 'Dream On' Is the Sauciest Show on Television," which describes how the show came about and how the clips were selected. Watch What's Allen Watching? and the allegedly excellent episode of The Hitchhiker starring Tom Skerritt. The Vulture interview with Denny Dillon in which she reveals that she was the first LGBT SNL cast member. Glen wrote Ninjago Decoded. WATCH IT! Shop for Gayest Episode Ever shirts, totes and more on our TeePublic page. Buy Glen's movie, Being Frank. Support us on Patreon! Follow: GEE on Twitter • Drew on Twitter • Glen on Twitter Listen: iTunes • Spotify • Stitcher • Google Play • Google Podcasts • Himalaya • TuneIn • SoundCloud And yes, we do have an official website! And we even have episode transcripts courtesy of Sarah Neal. Our logo was designed by Rob Wilson. This is a TableCakes podcast. This episode's outro track is "Baby Baby" by Daydream: Spotify • Amazon Music

"The One with Rachel's Big Kiss" (April 26, 2001) Welcome back Emelie Battaglia for another go-around with America's favorite homophobic sitcom, Friends! This episode has "Chandler is gay" jokes aplenty, even if he's about to marry Monica, but the focus is actually on Rachel, who encounters a college acquaintance (Winona Ryder) with whom she once shared a kiss. This episode features two more woman-on-woman kisses than the one where Carol and Susan get married — ahem — and Drew eagerly reveals that Regina Phalange's name literally translates as "finger queen." Ahem. Listen to our previous episodes: "Ross's Lesbian Ex-Wife Gets Lesbian Married," "Everyone Thinks Chandler Is Gay," and for reasons that will become apparent if you listen to it, our episode about Living Single. Here's the Guardian interview with David Schwimmer were pulls a real Ross, and here is Erika Alexander's response. And here's the news item that at least for 24 hours made people think Matthew Perry might be the next James Bond. Xuxa has a heart as big as the world. It remains to be seen if Xoxchitla does as well. Buy Gayest Episode Ever shirts, totes and more on our TeePublic page. Watch Glen's movie, Being Frank. Support us on Patreon! Follow: GEE on Twitter • Drew on Twitter • Glen on Twitter Listen: iTunes • Spotify • Stitcher • Google Play • Google Podcasts • Himalaya • TuneIn • SoundCloud And yes, we do have an official website! And we even have episode transcripts courtesy of Sarah Neal. Our logo was designed by Rob Wilson. This is a TableCakes podcast. This episode's outro track is "Will You Remember?" by Eighth Wonder: Apple Music • Spotify • Amazon Music

"The Boys in the Bar" (January 27, 1983) If you've been listening to this podcast for a bit, you may be aware of the fact that Glen refuses to listen to it. Drew thinks this is too bad, because this really seems like the kind of podcast Glen would really enjoy. In celebration of Glen's birthday month, Drew asked Sam Pancake and Tony Rodriguez to do a reading of one of the best episodes we've done: Episode 10, "Diane Chambers Is an LGBT Ally," based on the Cheers episode "The Boys in the Bar,," Drew's only real instruction to Sam and Tony was "go nuts with it," so this special episode will be weird as hell. In case you want to listen to the original episode, do that here. And if you want to read the transcript that Sam and Tony were reading from, click here. And if you want to hire Sarah to transcribe something, do that here. Follow Sam on Twitter and listen to his podcast, Monday Afternoon Movie. Follow Tony on Twitter and listen to his podcast, Spanish Aquí Presents. Buy Gayest Episode Ever shirts, totes and more on our TeePublic page. Buy Glen's movie, Being Frank. Support us on Patreon! Follow: GEE on Twitter • Drew on Twitter • Glen on Twitter Listen: iTunes • Spotify • Stitcher • Google Play • Google Podcasts • Himalaya • TuneIn • SoundCloud And yes, we do have an official website! And we even have episode transcripts courtesy of Sarah Neal. Our logo was designed by Rob Wilson. This is a TableCakes podcast.

"Mike's Madonna Story" (November 5, 1985) Yep. We're actually doing Growing Pains — specifically because of one scene in a first-season episode in which Kirk Cameron's character tosses of the line "Maybe I'm gay." It might seem small, but it's crazy to consider the word "gay" even being spoken on this quintessential 80s family show, much less by a character played by a guy who'd shortly thereafter become a born-again Christianity and who'd eventually disclose some seriously homophobic views. Glen and Drew are joined in this episode by Dan Steadman, a writer and filmmaker who actually was friends with Kirk Cameron but, you know, isn't anymore. Watch Dan's movie Jesus People on Amazon Prime. Watch the Dateline NBC segment on Dan's husband, Rodney Wilson. Read Dan's Huffington Post article about Kirk Cameron and Victoria Jackson. Watch all of the movie Dance Til Dawn on YouTube. Buy Gayest Episode Ever shirts, totes and more on our TeePublic page. Buy Glen's movie, Being Frank. Support us on Patreon! Follow: GEE on Twitter • Drew on Twitter • Glen on Twitter Listen: iTunes • Spotify • Stitcher • Google Play • Google Podcasts • Himalaya • TuneIn • SoundCloud And yes, we do have an official website! And we even have episode transcripts courtesy of Sarah Neal. Our logo was designed by Rob Wilson. This is a TableCakes podcast. This episode's outro track is "Gimme Love" by Cristina: Apple Music • Spotify • Amazon Music